Technical Field The invention relates to an unloading end frame of a belt conveyor carrying ceramic materials.

Background Art Specifically, though not exclusively, the invention is applied in loading dies for for the formation of ceramic tiles in devices generally known as double-loading devices, usually structured so as to deposit internally of a forming cell of a die a layer of powder material, which is usually laid on top of an already-deposited layer of powder material.

These devices operate in combination with usual means for loading (drawers or trucks) a press, using various devices among which conveyor belts exhibiting an unloading frame which moves alternatingly horizontally above the cell in synchrony with the other means for loading.

The operation of these devices is proportionally better in relation to the overall width of the unloading frame (and therefore the belt conveyor), and also in relation to the rigidity and geometrical stability of the structure and the geometrical configuration of the unloading frame.

The prior art all presents drawbacks with regard to the above qualities.

For example, the width of the unloading frame is very limited.

A further problem in the prior art is that it is difficult to maintain the right perfectly-centred and guided tension on the belt during movement above the

underlying cell. This difficulty is manifested in the use of wide belts (2-3 metres and more) whose use is made practically impossible in known applications.

The main aim of the present invention is to obviate these limitations and drawbacks in the prior art.

An advantage of the invention is its simplicity.

A further advantage consists in its modular structure.

These aims and advantages and more besides are fully achieved by the present invention as it is characterised in the claims that follow.

Disclosure of Invention Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will better emerge from the detailed description that follows of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention, illustrated purely by way of a non-limiting example in the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which: figure 1 is a schematic lateral view in vertical elevation of the invention in an intermediate operative configuration during a work cycle; figure 2 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of figure 1; figure 3 is part of a section made according to line 111-111 of figure 2.

With reference to the figures of the drawings, 1 denotes in its entirety a belt conveyor whose unloading frame is part of a device often termed a double- loading device, which is associated to a die for forming ceramic tiles and which is structured to deposit a layer of powder material 8 inside a forming cell, generally on top of a lower layer of powders 7 previously laid by a usual loading drawer or truck.

The layer of powder material 8 is normally prepared on the"upstream"part of the upper branch of the belt 2, not shown in the figures.

The unloading frame of the belt conveyor 1 is made to alternate above the cell 9 of the die 6, in the direction indicated by the arrow 10, in synchrony with the

movements of the other loading means which load the lower layer of powders 7, not shown in the figures.

The unloading frame comprises a bearing structure which includes a transversal bar 5 fixed to the ends of horizontal rods 11.

The bar 5 supports a plurality of small-diameter rollers 3 arranged consecutively on which the belt 2 at least partially winds.

Each of the rollers 3 is supported and constrained to the ends of support elements 4 which are mounted on the bar 5.

In particular, the small-diameter rollers 3 are arranged consecutively one after another in such a way that the axes thereof form a broken line.

The support elements 4 are mounted on the bar 5 by screw-connections which can be adjusted so that the distance of the ends of the single rollers 3 (to which the support elements 4 are constrained) from the bar 5 axis can be regulated or calibrated.

The rollers 3, which in a preferred embodiment are identical one to another, constitute a modular structure which in its entirety forms a strong rotating body which is well-supported and on which the belt 2 winds to form the end or frame of the belt conveyor 1.

The rotating means is very rigid independently of its overall length. This rigidity depends on the flexional deformability of the single rollers 3 and the bar 5.

The ability to regulate the distances of the ends of the single rollers 3 (using the support elements 4) with respect to the axis of the bar 5 means the reciprocal arrangement of the rollers 3 can be conformed to shape the belt 2 as required to obtain the desired centring.

The small diameter of the rollers 3 means that almost independently of the width of the end frame (and obviously the belt) the mass of the device can be reduced and therefore the distance of the layer of material to be unloaded, with the result

that the dropping distance of the powder materials is reduced and the best dropping distance for the powders can be optimally calculated.

The size of the support elements 4, which is less than the rollers 3 (the size in section is less than the diameter of the rollers 3), and the short distance (10-20 mm) between the single rollers 3 mean that a single belt 2 can be used for even considerable widths (2-3 metres and more). The belt 2 can be wound on rollers 3 over the whole width of the end frame, without interfering with the support elements 4.